ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been in conflict with my husband for years. We used to enjoy each other's company, but somewhere down the line that changed. Now I am not interested in the things he likes to watch on YouTube, which he seems to have on 24 hours a day. He couldn't care less about what I like to watch. He is retired now and barely wants to ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: What is the proper way to refuse a gentleman's invitation for a date? The little white lie seems wrong, and does not discourage the gentleman from issuing more unwanted invitations.

Is there a way to salvage his ego, particularly when one is genuinely appreciative of courteous and courageous efforts? Friends suggest calling ...Read more

Dear Annie: My question is: Can I still keep going to my church or is it time to cut ties? This is complicated because my husband was a pastor and I appreciated him greatly as a preacher. He took early retirement, but we stayed in the same town because I had a good job and we needed my income and insurance until I could retire.

Unfortunately,...Read more

DEAR ABBY: My son is getting married next year. He and his future wife are extremely religious. My daughter (his sister) is also engaged -- to a wonderful woman. Because of my daughter's lesbian relationship, my son does not plan to invite his sister's fiancee to the wedding, saying their values don't align. (If he didn't feel obligated, he ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend recently got a dog, but she and her family travel a lot, so they need to find care for the dog when they leave. I have been friends with her for more than 20 years and love animals, so I have been watching her dog. However, she doesn't ever pay me for doing this. Sometimes they are away for three weeks or more, and I ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am retired and have millions of dollars. Trust me.

We tell people who are coming for dinner: DO NOT BRING ANYTHING. In fact, I have a memo that makes it incredibly clear that this is exactly what we mean. But some a-holes bring something anyway. The response from me is very unpleasant, and then my husband gets all ...Read more

Dear Annie: My husband and I host Easter brunch every year for both sides of the family -- about 16 people total. I cook a big frittata, a glazed ham, homemade rolls and a salad or two.

My problem is my sister-in-law, "Brenda." For the past four years, she has signed up to bring dessert. And every year, she arrives with the exact same thing: ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I have a situation with this guy I've known for five years. We dated in the summer of sixth grade, but it wasn't serious, and we broke up after a month. But we always kept in touch and had secret feelings for each other.

We have never done anything more than talk and haven't dated since. We both get mad or awkward when the other one ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: When I was younger, I developed a strange habit of picking at the back of my hair. I did it so much that my hair thinned almost completely on the back of my head. I ended up getting a pixie cut to mask the hair loss. The beauty hack worked perfectly -- for a while, anyway.

As an adult, my bad habit has returned, but now I tend ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My (newly married) last name looks an awful lot like a certain four-letter word. It's rarely used in English, but common in its native language.

When someone new reads my name, whether on a name tag or on a screen, I notice a look of consternation in their eyes as they attempt to decipher the pronunciation without being crass...Read more

Dear Annie: My otherwise extremely well-mannered husband, "Ted," has developed an unspeakably disgusting habit, and I need help addressing it.

The backstory: About a year ago, there was an accident involving Ted, his brother and a couple of our nephews, which resulted in Ted losing five visible teeth. Our dentist removed the broken teeth and ...Read more

A singleness equated with isolation is as doomed to failure as a marriage expected to bring unending bliss; either way, a life can be no more (or less) than the sum of your choices. That said, I'm going to interest you in forming a support group of specialists. The services they can put into your life will be one of the prime ways you give ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My mom has gotten into burning incense lately, and whenever I bring my 10-year-old daughter over, she has an allergic reaction to it. She starts coughing and sneezing and has even gotten rashes from it. I've asked my mom not to burn it on days when she watches my daughter after she gets out of school, but she says no because it ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: When visiting my home, friends and relatives sit down and immediately put their feet on the sofa, even though I have a leather hassock for resting their feet sitting directly in front of the sofa.

I recently purchased a new sofa in a dark blue fabric, as I did not want to spot-clean after visits. Other chairs are covered in a...Read more